Earthen pit shoring means



Oct. 28, 1941. J. l.. WASHBOURNE EARTHEN PIT SHORING MEANS Filed April 18, 1959 BY v ,WM/A ATTORNEY, v

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 EARTHEN rrr SHOMNGMEANS. i Y I John L. Waslibourne, Douglastc'mLong Island,j

N. Y. .i

Application April 18, 1939-., `Serial No. 268,461

14 Claims. l(Cl. Gil- 41) 'Y The present invention relates to an improvement in sheathing for retaining and shoring the earthen walls of pits, or preferably open earth cuts, dry wells, and sumps, or intrenching, wherein vertical earth cuts are prevented from caving in, during excavation. This-type of construction is known as pit sheeting.

The present construction may be utilized in such a manner as to be erected, concurrently with the digging of the excavation, to follow the deepening excavation to the bottom thereof, as such excavation proceeds, and may be likened to the method of the folTow up system of tunneling cutting shields or headings wherein the lining rings are laid as the cutting shield progresses.

The essential difference in the present construction is that the present construction is of simple, metal channel beam construction, is made, preferably of horizontal arrangement of component parts, is assembled, as required, as the excavation proceeds, and at the bottom thereof, and at, all times provides aninterior, vertical earth wall sustaining means all round within the walls of the pit or trench beingdug.

The present construction is so developed, that it may be removed if desired, or it may be left in situ', and reinforced by aconcrete lining, which, owing to the construction ofthe sheathing elements, may be perfectlyl keyed or bonded thereto,

as will hereinafter appear, later, as outlined in detail.

In' the present construction, the horizontal reinforcing beams may be alternating wide and'narrow, and are affixed to one anotherfat their adjacent edges, `thus"to form lacomplete crib, eachbeam acting 'as 'a strut,without`any reinforcing elements other' than the snoring beams themselves and the 4essentialatta'ching elements, such as bolts and spacers, thus creating a rigid rec-v tangular framework or crib.

One of the features of'advantage is that in excavating long trenches, a series "of theshoring units may be placed 'side by side, orend to end,l

as desired, and afterwards removed, as desired.

y vThe present' construction may also, by .provid-`- ing roofing and flooring elements, be used ,in the construction of vaults, for permanent construc- A further lfeature of advantage, in addition tov vthe foregoing noted advantagesof the .present method.r of.:` construction is that the crib Vmay. Vbe made up of-light gauge metal units, may be erected piece-meal withoutaundue disturbance .or looseninggof 4the earth walls, v andwillsolidly retain the said Awalls .du-ring the progress of the excavationand. tl'lerreafter.

The u'seof extraneous-cross and corner braces and gussets are eliminated in the present construction, and where the constructionis removed after its primary use,`tne elements of the structure may be used over and overagain.

The foregoing, andother features of advantage, will beapprehended; as the herein description proceeds, and it will be obvious that modications may be madein the structure herein disclosedl Without departing from the spirit Ahereof Y.or the scope ofthe appended claims; A l

In the drawing,.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crib, with one side, in part, removed, showing the exposed cut ends in section;A 5' l Fig. 2 isa side view,'in'.elevation` of one ofthe minor channels;. f

Fig. 3 is a topview of Fig. y2;

Fig.-4 is an end'viewfthereof;v

Fig. 5 is-a side view, inv elevation of one ofthe major channelsj 4 y v. Y

Fig. 6 is a topview of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end viewlof Fig..5.; 5

Fig. 8 isoan enlarged, sectioned, fragmentary View'of the beam and bolt assembly;v

Fig.9 is a fragmentary,. corner section-.showing the structuralcooperation ofthe beams vat their end connections;

Fig. 10 is a sectional viewinplan-,of av modified form Vof construction; Y

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary Viewfinelevation-of Fig. 10; Fig. `12 is a fragmentary view of one.of the beam ends; Fig. 13 isaffragmentary/ side view in elevation, of a further modied'form; Fig-14l As-shown in one-formin Fig. -1, the'structure comprises, when assembled, a crib formed `of edge connected channel beams,` the same beingconstructed of wide ork major beams C, and/narrowor minor beams B, these being alternately spacedinone tier, Vin assembly to one another, so astoieave spaces between one another for soil inspection, tamping and the likefas previously set forth. Y Y

As will be noted in Figs. 1, 4, 7, 10, `11 and 12 thebeams areformed withdouble-flanges` at Vexcavation progresses.

2 j. s their opposite sides 8, one main ange I being formed at right angles to the said sides and another smaller iiange 2 being formed at right angles to flange I. These iianges have the plural -functions of reinforcing the beams at their edges and C may be connected in operative assembly,

as shown in Fig. 1. These bolt receiving aper-` tures are so located in both the major and minor beams as to be in registry when erected, so that the threaded joining bolts 4, Fig. 8, may be assembled through the registered `apertures 3 to join the anges 2 of the beams B and C.

In Yorder to maintain the beams in horizontal, spaced assembly, tubular spacersV F),F ig.r 8,v are providedV whereby toxhold the major 4and minor beams vapart between the bolt head 'I and thread-` ed nut 6, as shown in Fig. 8. y

` The'relative diierence'in width of the beams B and C vis equal to thelength of the spacers 5, Figs. 1 and 8, so thatfvvhen the Aassembly is accomplished, as in Fig. V1, 'the vstructure will be unitary.,jj" 1 The webs of thermajor beams C are each pro-` vided adjacent their opposite ends withupstand-j ing lugs VA, these being'blanked out ofthe Webs and bent inwardlyand'oiset at an angle to said webs,- as best seen in Fig. 9.l These lugs A act as'stops for lthe Yopposite ends of the minor beams B, when Vthe beams are assembledv into a shoring` unites in Fig. 1, so thatthe thrust pressured' Vthe earth walls against the ends of lthe'beams B will be amply supported at their ends' and said lugsA. Y Y., y

' As will beV seen in Fig. 1, each tier of constructionl comprises two major beamsaKC-CV located opposite one'another on' two opposite sides ofy the assembly, land on the other opposite sides of the same tier are located two yminor beams B-B.

The ,next successive ntierI assembly comprises, as above, two opposed vmajor beams C-C' and two,

opposed minor beams B-B, which are so alternatively mounted-vas to have the major beams C-C in contact'attheirends andthere opera-` tively held byA threadedshort bolts 4. Between the alternately spaced and connected beams C-C are located, alternately, a second set of minor beamsB-B, these being connected'to the major beams C-C of the rst tier by the tubularwbolt construction shown in Fig. 8.

As thus vshown and described, the successive,

adjacent tigers, of'beams comprise juxtaposed ma- 1 alternately assembled to j lto jor, and,V minor beams form anbpen-work crib. I, As Vpreviously noted, the tiers of shoring'ele.-

ments may .be assembled at the-bottom .of the structurev4 andgwill follow downwardly as the I t `Vis-int'enviled that Vwhere the word Dit occurs", throughoutfthis application, that any open cut 'pits' or trenches is intended.

mime poemes form-shown in Figs.f10,'11 and i the-beams B and CI are all of one width, and as assembled have no spaces between them. In 'thisconstructiom the beams are hanged as described forfFigs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and arey assembled Yflange toiiange andare locked in unit assembly by bolts, oneI of which, Il', isl shownvin l Figll, this fastening not requiring spacers, as

'which threaded bolts II the beams are so assembled as to form a rectangular walled, closed, tubular construction.

As in the previous Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9, one of the coacting beams B has upstanding, offset pressure lugs, A', Figs. 10 and 11,v whereby to sustain the tted in ends of the coacting beams C.

The coacting beam C', has its opposite endsv cut to remove the hanged sections thereat, and to provide a reduced end E, Fig. 12, whereby said reduced end may be fitted into the flanged ends of the beam B. As thus constructed, the vcrib thus formed-is box-like, in assembly.

In Figs. 13 and 14, there is shown a form of pit sheeting which is especially adapted for use in open, substantially continuous trench work, where pit sheeting is required only to retain the sides of the cut. In this, the minor beams are dispensed with, and simple ange ended bars or strut forming elements 9 are substituted. -The struts 9 ,may have right angled flanges I0 on their ends, thesefflanges-being preferably bolted by threaded bolts to the beams C', one" ofr such.

bolts II being shown in Fig. 14. As constructed' in Figs. 13 and 14, a series of shoring cribsimay be constructed in adjoining units and thus form.r substantially continuous lengths of trench side spective view of a crib construction in which ther channeled beams I3, I3"and I3" maybe all of.

one width, and these may be of the same general dimensions as either the 'major or minor beams of Fig.j 1, and thus the minor `beams, or their equivalent of Fig. 1, are omitted: This construe tionleavesv larger spaces between the associate beam edges, leaving this structure especially. adapted for use in excavations which are dug? in clayey soil. It has been found that the walls rof such excavations are much more self-sustaining than are the walls of pits dug*r in ordinary soil orloam, or the'walls of Apits dug in gravelly locations, and thus pits dug in'clay 'strata do not require so much pit.sheeting,.which, dueto the wider spacing of the beams or sheets, yis morev economical in material and laborto'erect.' VThe principles and features involved in the structure of 15 vare substantially identical with that of the structure of Fig. 1. The structure of Fig-15 comprises a pluralit bolted together by bolts I5'. -As shown in Fig. 15 a complete tier is formed byv alternately opposed beams like I3 and I3', two beams I3- beingV affixed in superposed corner contact with two opposed lower beams I3, thus to form a single rectangularY tier.

rThe beams I3, I3 and I 3". are provided with registering bolt receivingv aperture'swin their.

anges, as described for Fig. 1, and the spaced beams in each side of the cribare connected to`j gether by tubular separators IIS-I6, through are passed as showrilandl described f or Fig. 8.A

In the structure of Fig. 15, each` beam I3'-I3"v" acts in the double function of a wall retaining pit sheet on its operative'side and also as a strutv for its adjacenty corner connectedbeam |3.-

acciones all beams in this structure act-as pit sheets and struts,A concurrently. f Having thusvdescribed 'the invention,` what is claimed-is: l i' 1. A shoring structure'assembly'v comprising 'a plurality o'f tiers of beams one above 'the other, each tier comprising 'opposite horizontal parallel beams, each vbeam spaced .above and-parall'el to a beam of a tier below, and 'substantially perpendicular toopposite beams of the tier next below; each beam comprising an upright web longitudinal to the beam provided with widel flanges turnedlaterally toward' the `ropposite beam and then inwardly towardea'ch-o'ther to form smaller flanges, thus providing a channel opening toward the interior Aof the assembly, leach lower wide'v flange resting'on, and' being bolted to, 'anupper wide ilange of the beam next below'off the tier next below; and means at least in part illling the space between adjacent parallel beams.`

2. A'shoring structure assembly comprising a plurality of tiers ofrbeams one above the other, each tier comprising opposite beams, each beam spaced above a beam of a tier below, and transverse to opposite beams of the tier next below; each beam comprising an upright web longitudinal to the beam provided with wide flanges turned laterally toward the opposite beam and then inwardly toward each other to form additional strengthening flanges, thus providing a channel opening toward the interior of the assembly, each lower wide flange resting on, and being bolted to an upper wide flange of the beam next below; and means at least in part 'filling the space between the spaced beams.

3. A structure as in claim 2 in `which -said means includes upright bolts connecting said wide flangeswith flanges spaced therefrom, and tubular spacers around said bolts and engaging adjacent flanges.

4:.V A shoringstructure assembly comprising a plurality of tiers of beams one above the other, eachy tier comprising horizontal opposite parallel wide beams and intermediate narrow beams ccnnecting adjacent ends of said wide beams; each wide beam Vbeing spaced above a narrow beam of the tier next below, andV having its ends resting on ends of wide beams; each wide beam comprising an upright web having wide flanges turned laterally toward the opposite wide beam; an end of each lower Wide flange resting on an end of an upper wide flange of the wide beam next below; each narrow beam comprising an upright longitudinal web provided with laterally turned side flanges; the ends of said narrow beams being disposed between said flanges of the wide beams and substantially against the web of the wide beams, with said side flanges engaged with said flanges of the wide beams.

5. A structure as in claim 4 having lugs at the end portion of each wide-beam web having free ends engaged with the inner face of the narrowbeam webs to prevent their movement longitudinally inwardly of the wide beams.

6. In a structure as in claim 4, upright bolts connecting said lower wide flanges with the upper side flanges next beneath; and tubular spacers around said bolts and engaging adjacent flanges.

7. A shoring structure assembly comprising a plurality of tiers of beams one above the other, each tier comprising horizontal opposite parallel wide beams and intermediate narrow beams connecting adjacent ends of said wide beams; each wide beam being spaced above a narrow beam of the tier next below, and having its ends resting onends of wide beams.; teach ywi'de'fbeamcomprising an'upright 'webf'fhaving' wide flangesl turned laterally towardnthe opposite `wldebeam and then inwardlyl toward `each other to form smaller:

ilanges; `each lowerl .wide flange resting on, and being boltedito an upper'wide flange of the wide beam next below; eachnarrow beam comprising an upright-longitudinal `weby providedwith side anges turned inwardly of the. assembly and then toward each other; the endsV of said narrow beams being disposed between said narrowllanges and substantially against'the lweb of the wide beams, with said side flanges engagedwith said narrow ilanges.

l 8. Ashoring structure assembly comprising 4aplurality'of tiers of beams one above theother, each tier comprising horizontal opposite parallel beams and `'interr'nediate beams connecting vadjacent ends of said opposite beams; eachopposite beam' being substantially engaged with an'intermediate beam of the tier next below, and having its ends resting `on ends of said opposite beams respectively of said tier next below; each opposite beamcomprising an upright web longitudinal to the beam provided 'with wide flanges turned laterally toward the opp'ositewide beam; each lower wide flange resting on an upper widey flange of the tier next below; each intermediate beam comprising an upright longitudinal web provided with side flanges engaging against ladjacent wide flanges and turned inwardly of the assembly and then toward `each other; ysaid side flanges being cut away at the ends to provide end shoulders, substantially engaged with saidjanges of the opposite beams, and web'extensions disposed'between said flanges of the opposite beams and substantially against'the web ofsaid 'opposite beams. l i .s i

9. yA structure as in'r claim 8' comprising inwardly bla'nked` pressure lugs at the end Vportion of each web ofthe opposite'beams, said l-ugs havving free ends Iengaged with the intermediatebeam kwebs to prevent their lmovement longitudinally inwardly offsaidopposite beams.

10. A shoring'i; structure assembly comprising a pluralityof tiersjof `beams one above the other, each tier comprisinghorizontal oppositeparallel beams and intermediate beams connecting adjacent ends of said opposite beams; each opposite beam being engaged with an intermediate beam of the tier next below, and having its ends resting on ends of said opposite beams respectively of said tier next below; each opposite beam comprising an upright web longitudinal to the beam provided with wideA flanges turned laterally toward the opposite wide beam and then inwardly toward each other to form smaller flanges, thus providing a channel opening toward the interior of the assembly; each lower wide flange resting cn, and being bolted to an upper wide flange of the tier next below; each intermediate beam comprising an upright longitudinal web provided with side ilanges engaging against adjacent wide ilanges and turned inwardly of the assembly and then toward each other; said side flanges being cut away at the ends to provide end shoulders, substantially engaged with said smaller flanges, and web extensions disposed between saidsmaller ilanges and substantially against the web of said opposite beams; inwardly blanked pressure lugs at the end portion of each web of the opposite beams, said lugs having free ends engaged with the intermediate-beam webs to prevent their movement longitudinally inwardly of said opposite beams.

k11'. A shoring structure assembly comprising a plurality of tiers'of beams one above the other,l each tier comprising horizontal opposite parallel beams; each beam'being spaced above and'parallel toa beam two `tiers below, and having its ends resting on ends 'of beams respectively of the n tier next below; each beam comprising an upright web longitudinal to the beam provided with widey anges turned laterally toward the opposite wide beam and then inwardly toward each other to form smaller flanges, thus providinga, channel opening toward the interior of the assembly; each lower wide Vflange resting on, and being bolted to an upper wide iiange of the wide beam next below; 4and strut bars disposed between adjacent endsoffopposite beams of the same tier, and having laterally inwardly turned end flanges bolted to the axial portion of the webs of said ends of the beams. Y 1

l2. A` shoring structure assembly comprising a plurality of tiers of beams one above the other, each tier comprising horizontal opposite parallel beams and intermediate beams connecting ad-v jacent ends of said opposite beams; each opposite beam being engaged with a beam of the tier next below, and having its ends resting on ends of the engaged beam of said tier next below; each opposite beam comprising .an upright web longitudinal to the beam provided with wide iianges` turned laterally toward the opposite wide beam and then inwardly toward each other'to form smaller flanges, thus providing -a channel opening towardthe interior of the assembly; each lower wide flange resting on, and being bolted to an upper wide iiange of the tiervnext below; each intermediate beam comprising an upright longitudinal web provided with side anges engaging against adjacent flanges of said opposite beams and turned inwardly of th'e assembly and then toward'each other; the ends of said intermediate beams 'being substantially,engaged'with and bel tween-,said narrow flanges of lthe Said opposite beams, and substantially againstthe webs of said opposite beams; Yinwardly blanked pressure lugs blanked from the end portions of each web of the opposite beams, said lugs having free ends engaged with the intermediate-beam webs to prevent their movement longitudinally inwardly of said opposite beams. Y, l

13. A shoring structure assembly comprising a plurality` of tiers of beams one abovethe other, each tier comprising (horizontal opposite parallel wide beams-and intermediate narrow members connecting adjacent ends of said wide beams; each wide beam being disposed above a` portion of a beam of the tier lnext below, and having its ends resting on ends of wide beams; eachwide beam comprising an upright web having wide anges turnedlaterally toward the opposite wide I beam and then inwardlyl toward each other to form smaller flanges; ,each lower wide ange resting on an upper wide flangev of the wide beam next below; each narrow member comprising a longitudinal flat portion of narrow upright cross section; the ends of said narrow members being disposed between said narrow flanges and, substantially against the web of the wide beams; means carried by the end portion of eachwidebeam'web and engaged with the end portion 'of the narrow member to prevent their movement longitudinally inwardly of the wide beams. n

14. A shoring structure assembly comprising a plurality of tiers of beams one above the other, each tier comprising horizontal opposite parallel wide beams and intermediate members connecting adjacent ends of said wide beam-s; each wide beam being disposed above at least a portion cfa beam of the tier next below, and having its ends resting on ends of the engaged wide beams; each wide beam comprising an upright webl having wide flanges turned laterally toward the opposite wide beam and then inwardly toward each other to form' smaller flanges; .each lower wide ange JOHN L. WASHBOURNE; y, 

